The Message; Its Proclamation in All Lands a Sign of the End
J. T. BOETTCHER
Through sin man fell, and would have been forever lost had not God in his compassion prepared a way of escape. It was the message of the gospel which gladdened the ears of our first parents, and no wonder Eve exclaimed at the birth of her first son, “I have gotten a man from the Lord.” Gen. 4:1. She thought to see in him the one who would break the power of sin and let the captives free. But the time had not yet come. It was to Mary that the angel said, “Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35. Many things had to be accomplished before the Redeemer could come to this earth upon his mission of mercy.
When we look at the conditions in the world at the time of our Lord’s first advent, it is evident that God had prepared the way in a wonderful manner for the proclamation of the gospel. The nations that had been at war with one another were now united under one great Roman Empire, so that almost universal peace reigned, and the glad tidings, within a single generation, could be heralded everywhere. “Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” Rom. 10:18. Speaking of the church of the Thessalonians, Paul says, “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything.” 1 Thess. 1:8.
Popular religion had become stagnant; the whole system consisted in outward forms and an untold number of ceremonies. Instead of the spiritual weapons, they used the carnal; and instead of helping sinful man, they passed by on the other side. Luke 10:25-32. Christ introduced a new order of things: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), was his message. The disciples were not to stay in any one place permanently, for thus they would become as dormant as the Jews were. After a church had been raised up at Antioch, the Holy Ghost said: “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” Acts 13:2, 3. God had prepared these men to do a great work for him. Even though trials and hardships met them everywhere, they knew they were called by the Holy Ghost “to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6. Wherever the gospel was preached, it made new creatures of all who by faith accepted it.
LABORERS AT A GENERAL MEETING IN RUSSIA
But soon after the death of the apostles, there came a falling away from the true principles of the gospel, and again human traditions took the place of the divine teaching. Salvation was no longer regarded the gift of God, but the reward of good works. But when the darkness was the densest, God sent the Reformation of the sixteenth century. He had long been preparing the way for it. The historian D’Aubigne says: “An observant mind might then have discerned two laws by which God governs the course of events. He first prepares slowly and from afar that which he designs to accomplish. He has ages in which to work. Then when the time is come, he effects the greatest results by the smallest means. He acts thus in nature and in providence. For the production of a gigantic tree, he deposits in the earth a tiny seed; for the renovation of his church, he makes use of the meanest instruments to accomplish what emperors, learned men, and even the heads of that church have failed to effect!”
And so it was; the Reformation shook the thrones of kings and emperors, and was heralded everywhere. It was the theme of conversation at the royal courts as well as around the fireside of the most humble peasant, until within a generation it had extended all over Europe, and even to countries beyond.
But this was only a preparation for the greater work that was to be done in the time of the end; for the threefold message of Rev. 14:6-12 was to lighten every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. At the right time God again had men ready everywhere who, yielding to the influence of the Holy Spirit, stepped out by faith, keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus. In the tenth chapter of Revelation a vivid description of this message is given. A mighty angel is represented as coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.
Angels are the messengers of God, and in this case represent those who give the message. As the rainbow is the sign of sure promise, so this message is not indefinite, but certain, having the promise of God for its very foundation. Noah, to whom the rainbow was first shown, had believed what God said, and on the strength of it had given up all the earthly things in order to build the ark. Having given up all, he received all in return. There is a rainbow around the throne of God (Eze. 1:28), ever reminding those who give the message that God is looking with mercy upon the inhabitants of this world.
The face of the angel was as the sun. Full of glory and splendor will the message be; there will be nothing uncertain about it. As the sun can be seen by all, so the truth will shine everywhere. His feet are as pillars of fire, which devour everything that is false, yet they themselves stand fast forevermore.
This angel has in his hand a little book open; his right foot is upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth. What a wonderful, clear illustration this is to prove that the message of Christ’s second coming must be sounded all around14the globe! The ships on the sea must carry the messengers. On the way to the General Conference we saw this fulfilled to the letter. We were over forty missionaries on one ship, and not only were important committee meetings held, but occasion was taken to preach the truth to a large number of the passengers gathered in the dining-room. It was well known on board the ship that we were missionaries going to the World’s General Conference.
The little open book in the angel’s hand represents God’s Word. Not man-made theories will be presented in giving this message, but the prophecies pure and simple; precept must be upon precept, line upon line; here a little and there a little. Isa. 28:10. We are exhorted to seek out of the Book of the Lord and read: “No one of these shall fail, . . . for my mouth it hath commanded, and his Spirit it hath gathered them.” Isa. 34:16. While the Reformation of the sixteenth century gave to the people the Bible, this last reformation opens, or explains, it to them.
With an oath the angel declares that there will not be another message following this one. Even time should be no longer, which proves that all prophetic time culminates now. How solemn the thought that we are living right in the days of this last message! The wise will understand it, and be purified, made white, and tried. Dan. 12:10.
In order that we may know when this message is to be given, the prophet refers to the seventh trumpet. Rev. 10:7. When it shall begin to sound, the mystery of God shall be finished. Under this war trumpet the nations are angry with one another, making great preparation for the final battle. While this is going on, the angels are holding the winds, so that the servants of God can be sealed and the mystery of God finished. The gospel hope of patriarchs, prophets, and all the saints will now be fulfilled. The voice of God, pleading with the indifferent ones, will not be heard much longer. The gentle Spirit that has so long called sinners to repentance will soon cease to strive.
This threefold message started in different parts of the world from a very humble beginning. Like a seed planted in the ground, it has now become a gigantic tree, spreading its branches over all the earth. I have in my possession a little hymn-book of seventy-one hymns. This booklet was published in 1873, in Barmen, Germany. Near this place a group of earnest Christians had, by reading the Bible, found the true Sabbath, and gave expression to their new-found faith in sacred song. Thinking themselves to be the only Christian Sabbath-keepers in the world, they did not realize that in forty years’ time they would be surrounded with churches, conferences, and unions of Sabbath-keeping Christians. Two stanzas from one of their hymns, translated from the German, express their faith and obedience in the following language:—
“O Lord, before whom naught is hidden,
Thou knowest why we gather here
On this thy holy Sabbath morning
To worship thee, our Saviour dear.
O, let us never be ashamed;
And take our humble offering.
Thou didst great things for us, O Lord,
And now we praise and honor bring.
“And though for long and weary ages
The Word of God was changed around,
We now, before the plagues soon coming,
Thy precious light and truth have found.
We want to live on thy command,
O Saviour, on thy Word alone;
We know that only in that way
The right and godly fear is shown.”
When Elder J. G. Matteson was sent to Denmark in 1877, and the following year organized the first church in Sjælland, his faith would hardly have grasped the fact that within thirty-six years there would be in Scandinavia alone over 3,300 believers, with sanitariums and many schools.
Also in the early days of the message the truth had entered Switzerland, and the first European Conference meeting was held in Neuchatel, November, 1874, the year that Elder J. N. Andrews went there from America.
In 1886 Brother B. L. Whitney, writing from Switzerland about the work in Russia, said: “According to the reports received from Elder L. R. Conradi, 75 persons have accepted the present truth in the Russian Empire.” At present there are 223 churches in Russia, with a membership of 5,528 believers, and more than 100 missionary workers. Hundreds are obeying the truth every year, and although from the beginning great obstacles presented themselves, so far all have been conquered by the power of God.
All over Europe God is working in behalf of those who are seeking truth, and the message is onward, be it in Protestant, Catholic, or Mohammedan lands. There are at present in the European Division Conference 99 organizations, 700 workers, more than 1,000 canvassers, and nearly 30,000 members. Although the war-cloud has been hanging over the continent during the past year, and at times has even burst, and although a number of our young men were drafted, the triumphs of the cause were never greater, and our brethren were able to testify for the truth in the army. This is because our people are devoted to the light which they have received. But how much more could be accomplished were our consecration more thorough! Not only are the European unions working their own fields with their vast millions, but they are endeavoring to do missionary work in dark parts of Asia and Africa. Young men and women are giving their lives to missionary service, and faithful members in the home land are supporting them with their means, and are praying for their success. Where a few years ago the name of Jesus was not known, now the sweet sound of prayer and praise to God is heard. Yes, even these converted heathen are extending a helping hand to their benighted neighbors.
Soon the whole earth will be lighted with the glory of the message, and the gospel work be finished. The same divine providence is directing now as in days of old. God is preparing a people who will be without spot or wrinkle at the coming of Christ our Saviour. John, seeing in vision the final triumph of the gospel message, writes: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Rev. 7:9, 10.
